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Colace Question

PostPosted: Oct 06, 2004 6:54 am
by dolphinsnb
Ok, I went to the pharmacy yesterday to get some colace, but I couldn't find it. Is it a brand name or just an active ingredient or what? The pharmacist hastily pointed out a box of Target brand something and said it was the same thing, but I couldn't find the word colace anywhere on the box. So, I didn't buy it. What should I be looking for?

Thanks,
Shannon

PostPosted: Oct 06, 2004 9:54 am
by emily
Shannon,

I "think" it is just a brand name. I was on this product after delivery due to 4th degree tearing, BUT after experiencing Zofran constipation, I will definitely be taking this product during PG.

Emily

PostPosted: Oct 06, 2004 5:03 pm
by Atsie
Hello,
Colace is also known as Dulcolax. That is the generic name I belive.
Hope this helps.
Erin
PS it is a small football shaped red gel capsul. That might help the drug store people.

PostPosted: Oct 06, 2004 8:53 pm
by Gail
Shannon- Colace is the brand name and Docusate is the generic name. Generic drugs won't have a brand name listed on them. Colace is just a stool softener. They also make a stool softener and laxitive combined. The brand name is Peri-colace or another is Senokot S. The generic name is docusate and senna. I'm not sure exactly what effect your looking for. There is really no differance in brand name drugs and generic other then the price!!

PostPosted: Oct 06, 2004 9:08 pm
by mammaclare
Just wanted to clarify. Colace is docusate as mentioned above, but is not dulcolax. Dulcolax has a stimulant in it as well as a softener--so can cause some cramping and such, and if I am not mistaken, Dulcolax is a suppository.

PostPosted: Oct 07, 2004 4:41 pm
by Atsie
I got to work last night and realized I got the name wrong! Well it started with a D, Sorry!!!!!!!!!!! I looked at my clients file and was kicking myself and of course I couldn't get online to fix my mistake. DUH :oops:
Sorry!!!!!
Erin

PostPosted: Oct 07, 2004 4:49 pm
by Atsie
I feel like such a fool!

PostPosted: Oct 07, 2004 9:23 pm
by mammaclare
Atsie--

I couldn't even recall or spell my own name many days with HG--don't worry about getting it a little off!!!

Is colace just available as a suppository?

PostPosted: Oct 08, 2004 11:29 am
by dolphinsnb
I did find something at a different pharmacy, but it was suppositories... I'd prefer not to go that route, if at all possible!

Thanks,
Shannon

PostPosted: Oct 10, 2004 2:37 pm
by Gail
Shannon - As far as I know, colace does not come in suppository from at all, only pills or liquid. I do know that dulcolax comes in suppository and pill form, but that is a laxitive and colace is not. Colace is just a stool softener. I hope this info helps you find the right medication.

Finally found it!

PostPosted: Oct 11, 2004 7:44 am
by dolphinsnb
I finally found the colace at Walmart yesterday! Thanks for all the help, everyone!

Shannon

PostPosted: Oct 14, 2004 3:55 am
by J&Jmom
My doctor said he'd get me Colace, but when I picked up the meds, the bottle said Sulfak. I'm having a hard time swallowing pills, but when I have gotten it down, it hasn't helped me at all. I find it really did help after the baby was born, in my previous pregs.

I haven't pooped naturally since I got pregnant this time. I don't remember having this problem previously. I was in the ER 10 days ago for intense stomach cramps, and they gave me an edema. It was such a horrible experience. I then tried a suppository over the weekend. I haven't gone since. It's possibly related to the Zophran, but at least I'm functioning. I didn't have Zophran my other pregs and I couldn't function at all.

I was in the ER for an IV last week for dehydration. They gave me Reglan in my IV. It was my worst experience yet. I was jittery and anxious all over. It was horrible b/c I was in the hospital bed, hooked up to the IV, and I couldn't go anywhere, but my body didn't want to stay still. After about 1 1/2 hr of that, they gave me Benedryl to counteract the Reglan. I was still vomiting at that point, so I was given a Phenergan suppository. My first 2 pregs, Phenergan and IV's was all I had. I felt that all Phenergan did was make me sleep - at least I wasn't vomiting while I slept - but I still wasn't functioning, so I've been trying to stay away from Phenergan this time.

For now, I'm just getting through one-day-at-a-time. At least I have a resource w/others who are going through the same thing. I was really lost during my other preg.

Feel better soon

PostPosted: Oct 14, 2004 6:48 am
by dolphinsnb
Wow. That doesn't sound like you're having any fun at all. The day they sent me to the ER for the stomach cramping/constipation was one of the worst 24 hours of my life! They gave me a liter of IV fluids and sent me home to get a dulcolax suppository. And then I spent every 15 minutes in the bathroom cramping and going a little bit. I really wanted to die. Since then, I've only gone a little bit twice. I got the colace on Sunday, and I've only been once since then. I saw my doctor on Tues. He recommended taking mineral oil to clear things out. I haven't had a chance to get it yet, but someone at work said I could probably get it in liquid or capsule (like vitamin E) form. Once I work up enough nerve to go get it and try it, I'll let you know if it works!

I hope you start to feel better soon! :)

Shannon

PostPosted: Oct 18, 2004 3:04 pm
by artbeware
Colace didn't do anything at all for me. Nothing. Took 3 a day (the max) and didn't even fart. The only thing that works for me is Milk of Magnesia, but if you're vomiting a lot, you may not be able to tolerate it. I didn't try it until the end of my 2nd tri, but I had to concentrate REALLY hard to keep it down. I'm sure if I tried it any earlier it would have just compounded my misery. Two doses of 2 tablespoons within 12 hours of each other works like a charm for me. But I wouldn't recommend it if you're still vomiting a lot... it's kind of nasty stuff.

I did resort to an enema in my first trimester when things got out of control. That was awful, but it worked. Good luck!

PostPosted: Oct 18, 2004 4:19 pm
by Gail
Colace is med that needs be taken w/ alot of water/liquids. So I would imagine that if we were able to do that then we wouldn't need a stool softener. So when you take colace try to remember to keep drinking liquids as much as you can,even if it's just sips at a time, it will help the med to work better/faster.